Take Charge Indy Prepping for Clark

Photo: Arron Haggart/Eclipse Sportswire / Eclipse Sportswire
Florida Derby (GI) winner Take Charge Indy will make his first start since finishing 19th of 20 in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) in Saturday’s Fayette (GII) at Keeneland and trainer Pat Byrne is hopeful that race will get him fit for their ultimate goal: the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) at Churchill Downs on Friday, Nov. 23.
 
“When we stopped on him after the Derby, I said we’ll try to make the Clark with him,” Byrne said. “We wanted to get a race in him before and landed on the Fayette. It’s just across town and we didn’t have to ship him all over the place. He’s fit now but he’ll be fitter for the Clark. You can breeze a horse and train and train, but there’s nothing like a race (to get a horse fit).”
 
Take Charge Indy came out of the Derby with a chip in his left front ankle. The chip was removed and the Chuck and Maribeth Sandford-owned colt was then given a few months turned out. 
 
“He’s matured since the spring,” Byrne said. “He really developed during the time he had off at the farm.”
 
Take Charge Indy, who has had five breezes at Churchill Downs since returning to the track in early August, will break from post five under regular rider Calvin Borel in the Fayette. He is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the field of 11.  

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